Synthesis of 2,2′-bipyridines with axially chiral 1,1′-binaphthalene units

Synthesis of a series of novel 2,2'-bipyridine-based ligands bearing the axially chiral 2,2'-dialkoxy-1,1'-binaphthalene units is presented. The oxydimethylene, amidomethylene and amido spacers have been utilised to link the 3 or 3,3' positions of the binaphthalene skeleton with the 6 or 6,6' positions of the 2,2'-bipyridine moieties. The ligands have been synthesised in both racemic and enantiomerically pure R forms.